LOGGER'S LARCENY and THE HATCHET TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS

From 1001 Stories From the Old West by Jon Hagadorn

April 29, 2026 · 1h 1m

About this episode

This episode features two tales involving crime and investigation in the Old West, focusing on logging thefts and the Texas Rangers.

🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "Loggers' Larceny" A Forest Crime with Deep Roots In "Loggers' Larceny," Ranger Jace Pearson is called into the thick timber country when a logging operation reports a series of costly thefts. What begins as missing equipment soon points to something far more organized — a scheme that threatens both livelihoods and lives. As Jace works his way through a community where everyone knows everyone, he finds himself navigating rivalries, grudges, and the rough‑and‑ready world of men who make their living with saws and sweat. The clues lead him deep into the forest, where the line between accident and sabotage grows dangerously thin. Without revealing the ending, this is a story about greed , betrayal , and the lengths some will go to carve out a profit in the shadows of the pines. 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Hatchet" A Brutal Crime and a Trail That Refuses to Stay Cold "The Hatchet" opens with ales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the US NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952. Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Hagadorn

Topics covered

logging crime
Texas Rangers
theft investigation
community rivalries
historical reenactment

Keywords

logging
theft
Texas Rangers
crime
investigation
community
history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Texas Rangers, NBC

Books & works: Loggers' Larceny, The Hatchet